Jazz Sudbury searching for emerging artists

Talented jazz artists looking for a new break on Sudbury’s biggest jazz stage have until Aug. 29 to submit their jazz performance, for a chance to win $1,000 and a slot on the Jazz Sudbury Festival lineup.

Lia Tramontini was the winner of the Jazz Sudbury's Emerging Artist Showcase in 2013. The jazz festival is seeking entries into this year's contest. Supplied photo.

Talented jazz artists looking for a new break on Sudbury’s biggest jazz stage have until Aug. 29 to submit their jazz performance, for a chance to win $1,000 and a slot on the Jazz Sudbury Festival lineup.

Jazz Sudbury’s Emerging Artist Showcase gives new and emerging jazz talents the opportunity to share the stage with the festival’s headline artists.

Entries will be judged by an expert panel consisting of Sudbury's own award-winning jazz trumpeter Kevin Turcotte, jazz vocalist and local radio talent Hilary Welch, and Jazz Sudbury artistic director and music educator Allan J. Walsh.

“For me, the Emerging Artists Showcase performance was a warm, welcoming experience, with a unique atmosphere of fresh air and live music,” said Lia Tramontini, last year’s Emerging Artists Showcase winner.

She's now building on the experience gained at Jazz Sudbury to create a new album while residing in Texas.

The Emerging Artist Showcase is open to any emerging jazz solo artist or group in Ontario.

Contestants must submit a three- to five-minute video performance to the Jazz Sudbury website for a chance to win a $1,000 prize and a spot in the Jazz Sudbury lineup. The deadline to enter is 11:59 p.m. Aug. 29.

This year’s Jazz Sudbury festival is being held Sept. 5-6 at the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre at Bell Park, with the Emerging Artist Showcase winner providing the opening act on Friday night, headlined by Canadian blues legends Downchild.

Joining Downchild and the EAS winner Saturday night is award-winning Kevin Turcotte and Borealis Jazz. Turcotte was raised in Sudbury and is one of Canada’s most sought-after jazz trumpeters.

He has recorded and performed with some of the biggest names in Canadian jazz and has won numerous National Jazz awards. Saturday’s headline artist is Juno and National Jazz Awards winner Emilie-Claire Barlow.

Saturday’s lineup also features the Heavyweights Brass Band, which blends New Orleans jazz with funk and soul, and Hugh Jazz, one of Sudbury’s most sought-after jazz groups.

For details about the Emerging Artist Showcase and the Jazz Sudbury festival, visit our website at www.jazzsudbury.ca. You can also find Jazz Sudbury on Twitter (@jazzsudbury) and Facebook (facebook.com/JazzSudbury).

Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines.